Comment Period Open Until June 1The first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) was released today and will be online for public comment until June 1. In a process managed by Achieve, 26 states led the development of the Next Generation Science Standards. The NGSS is based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education, issued by the National Research Council last summer, which defines the major practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas that all students should be familiar with by the time they finish high school. A Framework for K-12 Science Education offers a new vision for K-12 education in science and engineering, and represents a significant shift in how these subjects are viewed and taught.
It is expected that the Next Generation Science Standards will have a profound influence on curriculum, assessment, and teacher professional development in the years ahead. Science educators, supervisors, administrators, and anyone interested in shaping the future of science education are strongly encouraged to read and thoroughly review the draft standards and provide comment back to Achieve on their dedicated website. Let NSTA be your guide to the Next Generation Science Standards Sign up now for two FREE webinars scheduled the week of May 14 to discuss the NGSS draft 1. Introduction to the NGSS Public Draft: Tuesday, May 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Stephen Pruitt, Vice President for Content, Research and Development at Achieve, will provide an introduction to the NGSS draft and answer your questions. 2. How to Lead a Study Group on NGSS Draft: Three top NSTA officials Harold Pratt, Gerry Wheeler, and Ted Willard will lead an in-depth webinar to help you develop and/or lead a group to review the draft NGSS, Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Check out our 14-page, FREE, and easy-to-read booklet on organizing study groups to have focused discussions about the NGSS draft. The booklet includes sample questions, a facilitator guide, and more. Visit NSTA’s Next Generation Science Standards Forums in the NSTA Learning Center where you can share your thoughts with other teachers and ask questions about the standards. Forums are organized by grade level and topic to facilitate focused discussion about the standards. Access the vast variety of NSTA resources and materials on NGSS (including background information) and don’t miss the FREE NSTA Reader’s Guide to A Framework for K-12 Science Education, Expanded Edition, an important companion to the Framework that will help science educators prepare for the standards. Sign up today for the comprehensive NSELA/NSTA Summer Leadership Institute, June 24-28, 2012, in Austin, Texas, where teachers and leaders will hear from key speakers and together explore the K-12 Framework and draft Next Generation Science Standards in depth, identify next steps for their schools and districts, determine what research is needed to support standards reform, and much more.
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